MANIFESTATIONS OF INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS IN THE PERIODONTIUM OF YOUNG BRAZILIAN PATIENTS - A 10-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

EIGHT FEMALE AND 3 MALE PATIENTS from a group of 30 patients studied 1 0 years earlier and who had received no periodontal treatment during t his period, in order to evaluate the progression of untreated periodon tal disease in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, were evaluated in terms of plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, pro bing depth, and alveolar bone loss. The total number of dental surface s that presented clinically detectable plaque deposits increased signi ficantly (29% to 43%; P < 0.01; chi(2) = 46.36). Site-specific compari sons for plaque index between studies showed a significant variation ( P < 0.01) in the upper arch only for palatal surfaces and in the lower arch for the buccal and lingual surfaces. The total dental surfaces w ith inflamed surrounding gingiva increased from 11% to 33% in this stu dy (P < 0.01; chi(2) = 175.78). Site-specific comparison for gingival index showed a significant variation for all upper surfaces, while suc h difference for the lower arch was significant only for the buccal an d lingual surfaces. The arithmetic means for the probing depth for the upper buccal, upper palatal, lower buccal, and lower lingual surfaces increased significantly (P < 0.01). The arithmetic means of alveolar bone loss also increased significantly for the upper posterior and low er regions (P < 0.01) and for the upper anterior and lower anterior re gions (P < 0.05). The correlation between age and probing depth was si gnificant only for the upper palatal region (P < 0.01). The correlatio n between age and bone loss was significant only for the upper posteri or region (P < 0.05). The results of this follow-up study suggest that despite little variation in plaque accumulation, gingival inflammatio n, probing depth, and bone loss increased after a 10-year interval in patients who had received no periodontal treatment during this period.